The level Crash 'N Burn has such a long and complex history that it actually needs a page of its own. Listed below are areas you don't usually get to see in the game, as well as LXShadow's theory as to how the level would have originally played out.

For some of these areas, comparisons will be made between pre-release screenshots and the level in the disc.

The Beginning

(contributed by LXShadow)

This is where you'd begin playing the level. A group of swimming turtles and platforms would lead to the place where you start the level in the final version, meaning you wouldn't just appear on the island like you do now. Most objects have been removed except for the turtles and the fire particles in the background (from the now missing sinking ship). Note that the left (final) screenshot has a custom-made bridge just so Crash could get to this place. It's not actually there in the game.

Small Islands

(contributed by LXShadow)

This is a pre-release screenshot. By hopping around on the platforms and the turtles, you'd eventually arrive at this place.

The Tribe King

This big gorilla fellow would obstruct Crash's way. The left screenshot is a hack of the final version, and the right one shows his original location in a pre-release build. He's still present in the disc, but you can't see him through normal gameplay because he's been removed from the level. However, that didn't stop LXShadow from placing him back on the left. He placed him next to a peculiar wall for an unexpected comparison. Look closely at the wall and you'll see the gorilla's face engraved there! It's in plain sight as you play the level normally and it's probably a tribute to his long lost model. Farewell, gorilla. We hardly knew you. No, really.

The gorilla in the disc still has three animations: one for when he's idle, one for when he takes a hit and one for when he's defeated. He might have been intended as a mini-boss, considering there are separate animations for him taking a hit and being defeated (regular enemies in the game all have a single hit point).

There's an interesting story about the gorilla's role in the game. You can read more about it below in "Crash 'N Burn History".

New VS Old

(contributed by LXShadow)

These images are meant to compare how some areas looked like in a prototype trailer (left half) and how they are in the final version (right half). Colored arrows have been drawn to make the comparisons easier. Note that some of these areas aren't accessible in the final version without a hack.

Volcano Climb

(contributed by LXShadow)

If you've ever thought this level seems cut a bit short in the end... it is! After reaching the area where the exit is in the final version, Crash would have climbed to the top of the volcano. The first image shows this area in the final version, with all the platforms having been removed (note that an invincibility cheat is in use, which explains why Crash is enjoying his lava bath). The second image is how this area looked like in a prototype.

The Original Course

(contributed by LXShadow)

The following is LXShadow's take on the level's history and how it would have played out, judging from his discoveries while hacking and from looking at the prototype trailer. Here is his synopsis:

I've started off at the place where Coco's been trapped, because you probably don't get to see from the starting area's point-of-view in the trailer. The red arrow points to where you would've started off the level. Chances are, Coco's already been kidnapped by then, and you've come to this level to save her.

This is where we'd have just jumped off of the small volcano island, and we're making our way to the second island. Well, we will once Crash gets up, anyway. The red arrow points to one of the platforms Crash'll use to get across to the third island. The island just in front of him is the second island.

We never actually got to land on the second island... that's a shame. This is just between the second and third islands. The red arrow points to the edge of the third and final island. (This screenshot suggests that it's the final one, since you can only see three islands in it, including the one we started on.) Note the third island might not be the same as the starting one that appears in the full game, because I think the entrance to the main volcano island was moved towards the left in the full game.

This is where we step onto the main island. The candles aren't lit, and from here we can only see two huts. It used to be pretty empty here. The green circle... well, it's best if you see this part of the trailer for yourself, but chances are it's a monkey. I wonder what it's doing, though? Collecting bananas from the tree?

The red arrow points to the area the next screenshot takes place in.

Here we are, tiptoe-ing around the Nitro Crates... yeah, we could've avoided these but we decided to do it the hard way. From here you can see more huts, and a tree that's on fire. I don't know why they decided to put the trees on fire and forget about the candles, though. The red arrow points towards where we're going to go, but we're going to have a skip a lot of the pathway for this one.

Yep, we've skipped a lot. This pathway should be obvious for those who've played the final version of Crash and Burn. If you haven't, then we're basically going to go towards the screen. Crash, you're going the wrong way!

Wait, what's Fake C- er, Crash doing here? I can't explain much about this part, but it may just have been another way to the "throne area". Or a dead end. We're just next to the cage that Coco's in, though. The red arrow points towards it.

Here we are, at the cage. It looks like Crash just came back from the last area after figuring that there isn't all too much there. The green arrow points back to that area, and it's still very close-by... just out of view. The red arrow is trying really hard to point to the "throne area" (it has three-dimensional, argh). To get there we'll just go underneath the cage, then that little structure just further along. Then, we'll reach...

The "throne area"!.. Yeah, I couldn't think of a better name for it. The blue arrow points to a large grey rock, which might have been the reason why Fake C- er, Crash possibly turned around and went towards the cage. The yellow arrow points to the throne, probably where the gorilla would sit (well, what else would he do with it?), judging by its size and the feathers. The green arrow points to another monkey... not really big enough to sit on that throne, I'd think.

I'd put a red arrow here, but, where would we go, exactly? In this stage of development, you probably went around the throne, but what would be the point in doing that? Maybe this area was bigger, but unfortunately we don't get to see enough of it to be able to tell.

What are we still doing here? Well, just to point out one of those mini-volcanoes that we'll be getting close to in a moment. (Thanks again, red arrow!) Coco's probably already up there, waiting for us. But I thought she was still trapped in the- oh, never mind... the game's still in its early stages so we probably won't be seeing her climb out of it.

Oh, also, there's another monkey here. Hi, other monkey!

Oh, look, mini-volcanoes! And more parrots. The parrots in this version of the game don't seem to be nearly as suicidal as they are in the full game. I think. The red arrow points to Coco, who's been waiting for us... but apparently that's all she gets to do in this level, anyway.

"Hi, Coco, follow us!"

Again, we're heading towards the place that the red arrow's pointing at. And chances are Coco will come and follow us up there.

Nope, it looks like Coco didn't want to listen to us, and stayed behind. We asked her to follow us but all she did was stare at us. Oh well - I'm sure she'll enjoy her time back there.

We had to skip a little bit of the level to we get here. But look, that green arrow shows where we started from! We're on the big volcano now, and we're almost home. Where the returning portal can be found, though, isn't known. In the full game we'd pretty much be at the end of the level already, but this version could either end right here or end on top of the volcano. We may never know.